Renault Captur Review
What did we drive?
New Captur S-Edition TCe 155 EDC
Fuel Type: Petrol
Engine Capacity: 1,333cc
Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
Power: 155hp
0-62: 8.6 seconds
Colour: Desert Orange with Diamond Black roof
Interior: Orange fabric upholstery with orange armrests and dashboard (Signature Orange Pack)
Wheels: 18” Pasadena diamond cut alloys
OTR Price: from £18,295
Renault Captur Engines
There are no fewer than 8 different engine options available when it comes to the new Renault Captur; 3 diesels, 4 petrols and 1 Plug-in Hybrid. We drove the TCe 155 EDC – which was a lot quicker than I’d expected and provided more than enough power. Realistically I think many would be more than happy with the slightly lesser powered 130hp, for a better mix of speed and driving economy.
Here’s a breakdown of all of the available engines...
Diesel
- Blue dCi 115 (6-Speed Manual)
- Blue dCi 115 Auto EDC (7-Speed Automatic)
- Blue dCi 95 (6-Speed Manual)
Petrol
- TCe 100 (5-Speed Manual)
- TCe 130 (6-Speed Manual)
- TCe 130 Auto EDC (7-speed Automatic)
- TCe 155 Auto EDC (7-Speed Automatic)
Hybrid
- E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto
The E-TECH gets a 1.6 litre petrol engine combined with 2 electric motors and a 9.8kWh battery to enable 160 horsepower and up to 30 miles electric driving range.
Renault Captur Design
Size-wise, the Captur is like a Clio on stilts; with the higher riding position that makes it a direct competitor to the likes of the new Nissan Juke, Seat Arona, VW T-Cross or Skoda Kamiq. However, the Captur stands out from the rest when it comes to design and quirkiness.
The standard colour for this vehicle is actually one that may excite people; a deep blue called ‘Boston Blue', with the choice of a blue, white, grey or black roof. Those willing to pay a bit extra will have a plethora of colour options to choose from… Black, white, grey, red, light blue, bright blue, orange and every combination of body panels and roof in-between.
This customisation also makes its way inside, with drivers having the choice between a simplistic black and grey cloth, black leather upholstery (depending on which model line and Pack they go for) or, as demonstrated in our car, the Signature Orange Interior Colour Pack… which as much as I’m not sure I want to admit it, I really started to love towards the end of our time with the car.
You could also alternatively brighten up the interior with a Blue or Red Interior Colour Pack, which isn’t as in your face as the full-blown orange dash in our car, but does offer a bit more vibrancy. Those who go for an E-TECH launch edition will on top of S Edition trim elements also get copper and blue design elements and special wheels.
One thing is for sure, this is a car to go for if you want something a bit less conservative. The bright exterior, wide stance, C-Shaped headlights and funky wheels make it a joy to see on the road, and that enjoyment carries on inside – a really fun and exciting place to be for both driver and passengers.
Renault Captur Technology
PLAY and ICONIC models get a 7 inch touchscreen as standard, whereas BOSE Edition and S-Edition models like ours get an upgraded 9 inch vertical touchscreen. All cars get DAB radio, USB ports and are compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That’s not all you get as standard either. We’re really impressed with the amount of standard features on the Captur, including:
- Traffic Sign recognition
- Cruise control and speed limiter
- ECO mode
- Distance Warning Alert
- Automatic headlights and front wipers
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Auto folding, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
- Full LED front and rear headlights with integrated daytime running lights
Our car also had the optional Traffic and Motorway Assistance Pack, which gets you a 360 degree camera as well as a Traffic Jam Companion – which gives you an audible warning when there’s going to be a traffic jam ahead… which unfortunately happened quite often on my drive as I got caught in the Friday afternoon rush heading down to Cornwall!
You don’t have to go far along the line-up to get yourself satellite navigation, ambient lighting, a choice of driving modes or wireless phone charging. The touchscreen is certainly a huge improvement on the previous generation Captur. However, it was prone to lagging and, as with any touchscreen, can be a bit of a distraction to operate whilst on the road.
Renault Captur Space and Practicality
Total boot capacity stands at 422 litres and there’s an adjustable boot floor to add depth. But where the Captur really differs from many of its competitors is in the fact that the entire back row of seats will slide forward in order to extend the boot space or increase the leg room inside for passengers (a total of 160mm). However, kept at a happy medium, there is both ample leg space and boot space for most driver and passenger needs.
For a family with young kids, the Captur is exceptionally practical - with no fewer than 3 Isofix points (just be sure to check the details of your seat to make sure it fits safely). I would however note that these aren’t the easiest of access – hidden behind a zip rather than a much easier flip cover. For those a bit older, our car also had 2 USB ports in the back (in addition to the 2 in the front) for charging.
The seats fold down in a 60:40 configuration, and with the boot level at its highest there is no annoying lip between the two spaces. There’s a small amount of storage in the armrest as well as under the centre console and in the door bins. Overall it’ll meet most needs without qualm, providing practicality but most importantly comfort for everyone travelling.
Renault Captur Hybrid
Notably the newest Captur is now available as a petrol Plug-in Hybrid. The E-TECH combines 2 electric motors with a 9.8 kWh battery and a 1.6 litre petrol to produce 160hp and up to 30 miles of electric range. There are a couple of interesting ways that this one improves the Captur's economy, including:
- Always going into full electric mode when reversing (improves fuel economy and lowers exhaust emissions)
- Uses regenerative breaking to help recharge the battery
- Use as a full-electric and zero emission car for short trips
The E-TECH will come with a 3-Pin socket cable as standard and can be plugged into a domestic 3-pin socket with a charging time of up to 4 hours 15 minutes. If you were to install a dedicated charger at home, a Type 2 (mode 3) cable is a cost option. For 3.7kW/7kW charger it’ll go from empty to full in 3 hours, as it will for a 22kW charger found in supermarkets etc.
Renault Captur Model Lines:
The Captur is available in 4 different trims; PLAY, ICONIC, S EDITION and BOSE LAUNCH EDITION. Our pick of the pack would be either the ICONIC or S EDITION for a great selection of kit and customisation. Here's a breakdown of some of the features of each model line...
PLAY
- Cruise control with speed limiter
- Hill Start assist
- Distance warning alert
- Automatic headlights and wipers
- Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist
- Full LED front and rear headlights with integrated daytime running lights
- Electrically adjustable, auto folding heated door mirrors
- Tinted rear windows
- Black gloss side door protection with chrome insert
- Black soft touch dashboard with black gloss finishes
- Automatic air con
- Front and rear electric windows
- EASY LINK: 7” touchscreen with Bluetooth, DAB radio, USB ports and compatible with Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™
ICONIC (in addition/replacement to features in the PLAY)
- Rear parking sensors
- 17” Alloy wheels
- Longitudinal roof bars
- Extra tinted rear windows and a tailgate
- Two-toned paint
- 7 inch touchscreen
- Satellite navigation
S EDITION (in addition/replacement to features in the ICONIC)
- C-shaped LED front signature lighting
- 17” Alloy wheels with grey inserts
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Review view camera
- Blind Spot Warning
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Leather steering wheel
- Black and grey cloth upholstery with synthetic leather and grey stitching
- 9.3 inch portrait touchscreen
- Wireless phone charging
- Multi-sense: Ambient Lighting and 3 different driving modes
- 7 inch TFT driver display
BOSE LAUNCH EDITION (in addition/replacement to features in the S EDITION)
- 18” diamond-cut alloys with grey inserts
- 7” touchscreen with Nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio and compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Premium BOSE surround sound system
Test driving the Renault Captur TCe 155 EDC S EDITION in Desert Orange
Final Verdict
Once again Renault has really upped their game when it comes to technology and the Captur remains to be one of the best designed Crossovers on the market. Even entry-level cars get a good amount of kit and it excels in terms of space and practicality for young families and older drivers alike. A relaxed, easy drive, but not boring… it’s anything but boring!
